All-new Volkswagen Arteon premium saloon

Well in advance of its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show next March, Volkswagen has provided a design drawing that shows the impressive contours of its new top saloon, the Arteon.

The totally new model replaces current CC. The all-new Arteon will sit above the Passat and Volkswagen says that it emphasises emotionality in the upper mid-class. As an aside, it went unnoticed in Ireland, but sales of the Volkswagen flagship saloon, the Phaeton, also ended earlier this year.

In addition to a new and very emotive outline, Volkswagen says that it is also introducing with the Arteon a highly expressive, horizontally accentuated brand look. The bars of the radiator grille extend here into the three-dimensional front headlights, while LED lighting elements additionally emphasise the striking layout and demonstrate dominance.

VW says that the four-door saloon impresses both through revolutionary design and great practical value in use. While the doors’ frameless windows reflect the typical stylistic elements of a grand tourer, Volkswagen claims that the top-hinged and wide-opening tailgate provides optimum access to the huge boot.

Tobias Suhlmann, their exterior designer, explains: “At first sight, the Arteon arouses enthusiasm through its expressive design. It then surprises through its practical virtues. This combination is unique.”

The name Arteon, with the emphasis put on the first syllable, is made up of two component parts: ‘Art’ describes the saloon’s harmonious lines and emotionality; ‘eon’ identifies it, in the same way as Volkswagen’s top model for the Chinese market, the ‘Phideon’, as a premium model.

The new Arteon is being publicly unveiled for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show, and Volkswagen says that its launch will then follow next summer (2017 ).